Partnership to address racism and support a culturally safe health care system

OTTAWA, ONTARIO – The National Consortium on Indigenous Medical Education (NCIME) is a partnership between the Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada, the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Medical Council of Canada and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and was formed to implement Indigenous-led work streams that will reform Indigenous medical education and contribute to the delivery of culturally safe care.

Funded by the Government of Canada, NCIME will provide leadership and support to partners as they fulfil their collective responsibilities to respond to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the TRC’s Calls to Action, and the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice.

The need for a safe health care system that responds to the needs of all who access it is clear, but given ongoing experiences of racism by Indigenous patients, Indigenous physicians and Indigenous medical learners, urgent action is needed so that the health and healthcare rights of Indigenous Peoples are fulfilled. Ensuring Indigenous Peoples access to care is high quality, culturally safe and free of racism begins with Indigenous-led systemic change in how medical professionals are instructed and evaluated.

Quotes

“The National Consortium on Indigenous Medical Education is an important step towards addressing anti-Indigenous racism in medical education and health care. Training physicians who can practice medicine in ways that meet the needs of Indigenous Peoples requires Indigenous leadership, learning environments that are free of racism, and assessment processes that ensure physicians have anti-racism and cultural safety knowledge and skills. This will require widespread structural reforms, and we are committed to working with all partners to implement Indigenous-led solutions in health care education and service delivery”.  Dr. Marcia Anderson, Chair, NCIME

ABOUT IPAC
The Indigenous Physicians Association of Canada was formed to encourage and support First Nations, Metis and Inuit individuals interested in becoming medical doctors, to support those already in training or practice and to promote the work of its members in their many capacities and disciplines.  As Indigenous physicians and students who are diversely rooted in our traditional teachings and our respective communities, IPAC members embrace and commit to collaboratively using our skills, abilities and experiences to advance the health of our nations, communities, families and individuals.  IPAC provides knowledge for communities, national organizations and health providers and advocates for health system transformation including addressing anti-Indigenous racism.

ABOUT AFMC
Founded in 1943, the Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) represents Canada’s 17 faculties of medicine and is the voice of academic medicine in this country. Our member faculties graduate over 2,700 MDs per year; teach over 11,500 undergraduate medical students; train over 15,000 postgraduate trainees; employ nearly 48,000 full and part-time faculty members and undertake over 3 billion dollars of biomedical and health care research annually.

ABOUT CFPC
The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the professional organization that represents more than 40,000 members across the country. The College establishes the standards for and accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada’s 17 medical schools. It reviews and certifies continuing professional development programs and materials that enable family physicians to meet certification and licensing requirements. The CFPC provides high-quality services, supports family medicine teaching and research, and advocates on behalf of the specialty of family medicine, family physicians, and the patients they serve.

ABOUT MCC
The Medical Council of Canada has a legislated national mandate to achieve the highest level of medical care for all in Canada through assessments that ensure all practising physicians have the foundational skills, knowledge and professional behaviours required. Every year, 14,000 medical students and graduates take our examinations, in Canada and internationally. We are committed to becoming allies who work to ensure cultural competence of physicians and to actively support anti-racism efforts in Canada.

ABOUT RCPSC
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada is the national professional association that pursues excellence in medical education, professional standards, and building physician competence. We protect the health of Canadians by helping physicians build skills, knowledge and expertise through lifelong learning and continuing professional development.  We accredit the university programs that train resident physicians for their specialty practices, and we administer the examinations that residents must pass to become certified as specialists. In collaboration with health organizations and government agencies, the Royal College also plays a role in developing sound health policy in Canada. To find out more, please visit royalcollege.ca.

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